Divan Beds Buying Guide

Divan beds have a sturdy, hollow wooden frame usually covered in wadding and upholstered with fabric. A divan usually comes in two parts (also called 'blocks'), which are attached to create the platform for your mattress to sit on top of.

An incredibly versatile and practical piece of bedroom furniture, divan beds offer plenty of excellent benefits, such as:

• Available with built-in storage - a divan bed with storage allows you to store items inside the divan base itself to keep your bedroom neat and provide much-needed additional storage for smaller bedrooms.
• Space-saving design - as well as having built-in storage, divans are designed to take up less space in your room. The mattress sits directly atop the divan base, creating a smaller footprint than a bed frame that surrounds a mattress.
• Quick and straightforward to put together - divan beds consist of two easily attached sections and a mattress is added.
• Customise your headboard - headboards are optional and can usually be interchanged with other headboards to transform the look of your divan.
• Easy to manoeuvre - there's no need to get stressed when rearranging your bedroom. Because they're lightweight and often come with castors, divan beds are easy to move around.

The first thing to decide is which divan base you'd like; there are two popular options available:

Platform top divan bases

Platform-top divan bed bases have a solid panel where your mattress would sit. This allows the bed base to offer firmer support.

Sprung divan bed bases

A sprung divan base features built-in springs - this gives the base more 'give', providing gentle support for those who want a softer comfort level.

We have a selection of fantastic storage options for divan beds available, such as:

Drawers

Drawers are a great choice if you're looking for an easy-access space to store your belongings. You won't have as much storage space as you would have if you went for an ottoman storage bed, but you'll still have plenty of space to work with.

The number of drawers your divan bed has will depend on its size. If you're looking for a single divan bed, you can choose two drawers on the same side, making it perfect for a child's room or a guest room. Alternatively, many of our larger sizes, such as the double divan bed or king-size divan bed, have four drawers, two on either side of the bed.

Ottoman storage

A divan bed with ottoman storage lifts to reveal a large underbed storage space. Unlike with drawers, ottoman beds offer the full size underneath the bed to work with, so there is plenty of room for all your things. Hydraulics make it easy to access your items whenever you need to.

Another choice you'll need is the type of feet you want your divan bed to have. The three common feet found on divan beds are:

Castors

Castors are wheels that attach to the bottom of your divan bed, making it easier to move around, such as when cleaning or changing your bedroom's layout. They are best for carpeted bedrooms. If you're choosing a bed with castors and your room has a wooden floor, you should invest in some castor cups or a different leg type to prevent your bed from moving around too quickly, such as when you get in and out of it.

Glides

Seen as a middle ground between castors and legs, castors are flat feet that help you move the bed more easily than legs but not quite as quickly as castors. They're a great choice regardless of your flooring type.

Legs

You could opt for a divan bed with legs, which will make your bed feel sturdy and grounded. Legs can also boost the height of your bed, making it easier to get into and out of.

Divan beds come in all the most popular sizes you would expect, including:

• Small single
• Single
• Small double
• Double
• King size
• Super king size

You should choose the bed size you need based on the size of the bedroom and who will be sleeping in it. We recommend measuring your room before purchasing a divan bed - look at our measuring guide for more useful information!

Most divan beds do not come with a mattress as standard. This allows you to choose the mattress that best suits your needs! Our mattress buying guide outlines all the types of mattresses we have available to ensure you get the best sleep possible.

Once you've decided on the practicalities, it's time to start styling! Consider the following:

• Invest in high-quality or expensive-looking bedding - even if you've invested in a budget divan bed, you can certainly add some luxury with plush bedding. Opt for a fluffy duvet and quality linen to give your divan that luxe hotel feel.
• Wash and iron your bedding before putting it on - removing those creases is an easy way to make your bed more aesthetically pleasing.
• Pull your duvet cover back - make your bed with the cover pulled back to reveal around a third of the sheet beneath it.
• Complement your pillows with throw cushions - they're not for sleeping on, but throw cushions (perfectly placed on your bed, of course!) are a great way to introduce colour and pattern to your room. Choose a complementary colour or add a contrast with a different shade or pattern.
• Use accent colours - from the rest of your room and complementary shades throughout your accessories to tie the space together.
• Finish with a throw - a throw or blanket draped over the edge of your bed is effortlessly stylish. If you have patterned bedding, opt for a plain throw and vice versa to avoid overloading the space. Change your throw seasonally to prevent getting too hot or cold as you sleep.

Learn more about styling a divan bed in our handy blog article!

Have you looked at our range of divan beds and not found your dream bed? Don't worry; we've got the perfect solution for you! Our Build Your Own Bed tool allows you to choose various colours, sizes, headboards and storage options to create your ideal bed.

With over 2 million combinations, there's guaranteed something for you. Not sure how to use our Build Your Own Bed Tool? We've got all the best tips and tricks to make using our unique tool easier than ever in our Build Your Own Bed guide!